Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
  • H01H3/001—Means for preventing or breaking contact-welding
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
  • G01R31/327—Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers
  • G01R31/3277—Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H47/00—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
  • H01H47/002—Monitoring or fail-safe circuits

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to the field of electronic devices for selectively transmitting or cutting the power supply of a load.
• It relates more particularly to an electronic cutoff device comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, a controllable switch interposed between the first input terminal and the first input terminal. output terminal, and a control circuit adapted to produce a control signal for the controllable switch.
• Such an electronic device makes it possible selectively to apply (on control of the control circuit) a voltage (applied between the input terminals) to a load connected to the output terminals.
• the control circuit can determine the control signal to be produced (to cause the opening or closing of the controllable switch) according to various setpoints such as a local set point (defined for example by means of a button fitted to the electronic device switching off) and / or a remote setpoint (received for example via a communication circuit), which offers great flexibility of operation.
• setpoints such as a local set point (defined for example by means of a button fitted to the electronic device switching off) and / or a remote setpoint (received for example via a communication circuit), which offers great flexibility of operation.
• Some controllable switches used in these electronic devices can however remain frozen in the closed position (typically due to a momentary overcurrent caused by the load supplied and inducing a solder or bonding of the contacts of the cutoff member), even when the circuit
• the control system applies an opening control signal to them.
• EP 2,879,152 discloses an AC power cut-off device comprising a relay mounted in a power supply line and a device for detecting a solder failure of the relay.
• the detection of a possible solder defect is based on the difference in current induced in a transformer wound with the supply line depending on whether the relay is soldered or not.
• the present invention provides an electronic switching device comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, a controllable switch interposed between the first terminal of input and the first output terminal, and a control circuit adapted to produce a control signal for the controllable switch, characterized in that it comprises a circuit for measuring an electrical quantity consumed through the controllable switch , and a finite impedance circuit interposed between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and in that the control circuit is arranged to produce an opening control signal of the controllable switch and to monitor the measured electrical quantity when this opening control signal is produced.
• the control circuit can thus detect, thanks to the measuring circuit, an abnormal closing of the controllable switch (that is to say a closing of the controllable switch while the control circuit generates an opening control signal) , even in the absence of charge.
• control circuit is designed to generate a fault indication if the measured electrical quantity indicates non-zero power consumption through the controllable switch when the opening control signal is produced;
• the fault indication is an ignition of a light indicator
• the fault indication is an ignition command of a light indicator or a fault information transmitted to a user terminal
• the electronic cut-off device comprises a human-machine interface designed to transmit local control information to the control circuit;
• the electronic cut-off device comprises a circuit for communication adapted to transmit remote control information to the control circuit;
• the measuring circuit is designed to measure a current intensity through the controllable switch, said electrical magnitude being this intensity
• the finite impedance circuit is a resistor connected between the first output terminal and the second output terminal.
• the invention also proposes a fault detection method in an electronic cut-off device comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, a controllable switch interposed between the first input terminal and the first output terminal, and a control circuit adapted to produce a control signal for the controllable switch, characterized in that the electronic switching device comprises a finite impedance circuit interposed between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and in that the method comprises the following steps:
• This fault detection method may further comprise a step of generating a fault indication if the measured electrical magnitude indicates a non-zero power consumption through the controllable switch when the opening control signal is generated.
• FIG. 1 is an electrical diagram of an electrical system comprising an electronic breaking device according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a logic diagram illustrating an exemplary method implemented within such an electronic cut-off device.
• FIG. 1 represents an electrical system comprising a voltage source (here alternatively) 2, a load 4 and an electronic switching device 10 interposed between the voltage source 2 and the load 4.
• Such an electronic cutoff device 10 is for example an electrical switch (that is to say a switch type electrical equipment) to be embedded in a partition or to project on a partition.
• the voltage source 2 is here typically an electrical network equipping a building (for example a housing) and applying, between two supply terminals L, N, an AC voltage, called the mains voltage, having characteristics defined by the applicable regulation (for example a nominal effective voltage of 230 V and a frequency of 50 Hz).
• the power supply terminal L is the phase terminal
• the power supply terminal N is the neutral terminal.
• the load 4 is for example a lamp (whose switching on or off is then controlled by means of the electronic switching device 10 as described below).
• Other types of load are, of course, conceivable.
• the presence of the charge 4 is however not systematic: the charge 4 may be absent in certain situations (for example, when the charge 4 is a lamp, during a replacement of the load 4 by the user or, when the electronic cutoff device 10 is integrated into an electrical outlet, when no electrical device is connected to this electrical outlet).
• the electronic cut-off device 10 is connected to the voltage source 2 as represented in FIG. 1, the electronic cut-off device 10 must therefore be able to operate in the presence or absence of the load 4.
• the electronic cut-off device 10 comprises a first input terminal 12, a second input terminal 14, a first output terminal 16 and a second output terminal 18.
• the first input terminal 12 is intended to be connected to the phase terminal L of the voltage source 2, while the second input terminal 14 is intended to be connected to the terminal of neutral N of the voltage source 2.
• the electronic cut-off device 10 comprises a measuring circuit 30 and a controllable switch 22 connected in series between the first input terminal 12 and the first output terminal 16.
• the second input terminal 14 and the second output terminal 18 are in turn electrically connected to each other, here directly. In other words, the second input terminal 14 and the second output terminal 18 have an identical electrical potential.
• the measuring circuit 30 is designed to produce a measurement M of an electrical quantity consumed through the controllable switch 22.
• This electrical quantity is here the intensity of the current flowing through the controllable switch 22; alternatively, it could be the power consumed through the controllable switch 22.
• the measuring circuit 30 is for example made by means of a shunt.
• the electronic cut-off device 10 also comprises a control circuit 20 which receives the measurement M produced by the measuring circuit 30.
• the control circuit 20 can also control the opening or closing of the controllable switch 22 by means of a control signal S.
• the control circuit 20 is for example a microcontroller.
• a microcontroller typically comprises a processor and at least one memory.
• This memory notably stores computer program instructions designed so that the microcontroller implements the functionalities and methods described below (in particular the method described below with reference to FIG. 2) when these instructions are executed by the processor.
• control circuit 20 could be a programmed circuit with a specific application.
• control circuit 20 is for example supplied by a supply circuit 32 connected on the one hand to the first input terminal 12 and on the other hand to the second input terminal 14, the supply circuit 32 thus receiving the voltage generated by the voltage source 2 (that is to say here the mains voltage).
• the supply circuit 32 may optionally supply other elements of the electronic cut-off device 10 in practice.
• the control circuit 20 receives control information C (or local control C) coming from a man-machine interface 26 equipping the electronic cutoff device 10.
• the human-machine interface 26 is for example a button, such as a push button.
• control circuit 20 generates a control signal S (opening or closing of the controllable switch 22) as a function, in particular, of the control information C produced by the man-machine interface 26.
• a control signal S opening or closing of the controllable switch 22
• the control signal S switches between a state causing the closing of the controllable switch 22 and a state causing the opening of the controllable switch 22 to each action on the man-machine interface 26 (c ' that is to say for example with each press of the push button 26).
• the control circuit 20 receives control information C '(or remote control C') coming from a control device. external control 6 and via a communication circuit 28 in communication with the control device 6.
• the communication circuit 28 (which equips in this case the electronic cutoff device 10 as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1) may in practice be able to establish a wireless link with the control device 6 and thus exchange data (in particular the control information C ') with the control device 6.
• the communication circuit 28 could be able to establish a wired link with the control device 6, possibly a wired connection using the cables of the above-mentioned electricity network (thanks, for example, to a power line technology).
• control information C 'could in practice be transmitted from the control device 6 (for example in this case a user terminal such as a smartphone) to the communication circuit 28 through different networks (including by example a cellular telephone network and a wired or wireless local area network).
• control device 6 for example in this case a user terminal such as a smartphone
• communication circuit 28 through different networks (including by example a cellular telephone network and a wired or wireless local area network).
• the communication circuit 28 is moreover connected to the control circuit 20 (for example by means of a computer bus) in order to transmit to the control circuit 20 the data (in particular the control information C ') received by the communication circuit 28 (coming in particular from the control device 6).
• the electronic cutoff device 10 also comprises a finite impedance circuit 24 mounted between the first output terminal 16 and the second output terminal 18.
• This finite impedance circuit 24 is for example an electric dipole (here a resistor), of which one terminal is here connected to the first output terminal 16 and the other terminal is connected to the second output terminal 18.
• the finite impedance circuit 24 has for example a resistance of between 100 k ⁇ and 1 MW, here a resistance of 470 kQ.
• control circuit 20 controls the opening of the controllable switch 22 (by generating an opening control signal S), in general on receiving a corresponding control information C, C ', the control circuit control 20 monitors the measurement M of the electrical quantity consumed through the controllable switch 22 (measurement M received as already indicated from the measuring circuit 30).
• controllable switch 22 In normal operation, the controllable switch 22 is actually open by the open control signal S, and no current can therefore flow between the first input terminal 12 and the first output terminal 16.
• the measurement M produced by the measuring circuit 30 (and transmitted to the control circuit 20) then indicates a zero consumption (that is to say here a zero intensity through the controllable switch 22).
• the measuring circuit 30 produces a measurement M indicative of a non-zero consumption (here of a non-zero intensity through the controllable switch 22), this means that a current flows through the controllable switch 22 despite the control signal S opening, which indicates that the controllable switch 22 is frozen in the closed position (ie: "glued").
• the control circuit 20 if the control circuit 20 generates a control signal S for opening the controllable switch 22 and receives a measurement M indicative of a non-zero consumption, the control circuit 20 generates a fault indication I, I ', for example by emitting an ignition command I of a fault light indicator 34 (typically in practice a light-emitting diode visible to the user) and / or fault information G in the direction of the communication circuit 28.
• This fault information G can then be transmitted by the communication circuit 28 to a user terminal (for example a smartphone) of the user.
• an electronic identifier (for example an electronic address or a telephone number) associated with the user is for example stored in the control circuit 20 or the communication circuit 28; upon receipt of the fault information G from the control circuit 20, the communication circuit 28 transmits this fault information G using the stored electronic identifier.
• control circuit 20 can also monitor the measurement M of the electrical quantity consumed through the controllable switch 22 when the control circuit 20 generates a control signal S for closing the controllable switch 22 .
• the power consumption is non-zero due to the flow of a current through the controllable switch 22 (for supply of the finite impedance circuit 24 and possibly the load 4).
• control circuit 20 receives a measurement M indicative of zero consumption through the controllable switch 22 while the control circuit 20 generates a control signal S for closing the controllable switch, this indicates also a malfunction and the control circuit 20 can then control the ignition of a fault indicator (possibly different from the fault indicator 34) and / or the sending of fault information to a user terminal via the communication circuit 28.
• FIG. 2 represents an exemplary method that can be implemented by the control circuit 20 within the electronic cut-off device 10.
• step E2 the control circuit 20 transmits to the controllable switch a closing control signal S.
• the controllable switch 22 is therefore normally closed and, if a load 4 is present, it is fed through the controllable switch 22.
• the control circuit 20 receives in step E4 control information C, C '(for example because of a user support on the push button 26).
• the control circuit 20 switches the control signal S and thus transmits to the step E6 an opening control signal S to the controllable switch 22.
• control circuit 20 acquires in step E8 the measurement M of electrical quantity consumed through the controllable switch 22, that is to say here the current measurement provided by the measuring circuit 30 connected in series with the controllable switch 22.
• the method may possibly loop in step E8 to acquire a new measurement M from the measurement circuit 30 and continue to monitor this measurement M.
• step E10 If the measurement M received indicates a non-zero power consumption, this indicates that the controllable switch 22 has remained in the closed position despite the application to this controllable switch 22 of the control signal S of opening and the process continues in this case in step E10 to report this fault to the user.
• step E10 the control circuit 20 generates a fault indication intended for the user, for example by issuing the ignition command I of the fault indicator 34 and / or by transmitting a fault information.
• fault G to an external electronic device (such as a user's computer) by means of the communication circuit 28.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Remote Monitoring And Control Of Power-Distribution Networks (AREA)
• Electronic Switches (AREA)
• Keying Circuit Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=62751112

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2018
  • 2018-04-12 FR FR1853196A patent/FR3080228B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-03-13 CN CN201980024992.2A patent/CN111937109B/zh active Active
  • 2019-03-13 EP EP19717526.8A patent/EP3776617B1/fr active Active
  • 2019-03-13 BR BR112020020094-8A patent/BR112020020094A2/pt unknown
  • 2019-03-13 WO PCT/FR2019/050554 patent/WO2019197740A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2019-03-13 AU AU2019253361A patent/AU2019253361B2/en active Active
• 2020
  • 2020-10-05 CO CONC2020/0012466A patent/CO2020012466A2/es unknown

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